Calum Chambers had his worst game in an Arsenal shirt on Saturday, but his disappointing performance against Everton was not entirely his fault.

That’s the opinion of Arsenal legend Alan Smith, who has explained why the 19-year-old defender struggled at Goodison Park in the Premier League in his column for The Telegraph.

The Englishman struggled to cope with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and committed some fouls he should not have.

Chambers also made a few wrong decisions, but Smith believes that he should not be vilified for his display against a side who are genuine challengers for a top-four finish in the league this season.

‘You also have to place this performance into proper context’, he wrote. ‘Chambers lined up next to a partner in Mertesacker who clearly isn’t fully fit after returning to training only a fortnight ago. The rustiness of the big German’s game certainly didn’t help someone so new to Arsenal’s set-up’.

In his column, Smith, who won the league twice and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup once with the Gunners, went on to claim that Chambers is ‘better on the ball than both Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny’.

Chambers, who can play in central defence, right-back and midfield, is indeed a bright prospect and did look strong against Manchester City in the FA Community Shield, Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Besiktas in the Champions League qualifier.

One poor game should not affect Arsenal fans’ positive opinion of Chambers, but his performance against Everton did prove that he has a lot to learn.

Should Calum Chambers start regularly for Arsenal?

Subhankar Mondal

A freelance journalist based in Wakefield, Subhankar Mondal has previously worked for Goal.com International and has had his sports articles published in The Guardian and The Observer. He has also been on the BBC in the past and his name once found its way to the pages of the World Soccer magazine.